Navi Mumbai (or New Bombay) [7] is a beautiful city in Thane district to the Northeast of Mumbai. It was founded in 1971 as a satellite township to take the pressure off Mumbai city. In that, it has been only partially successful. Though many residents moved into Navi Mumbai, businesses did not. As a result, most people continue to commute to Mumbai. This has been changing in the past few years, with many IT and ITES industries setting up shop here.

Navi Mumbai is separated from the island of Mumbai by the Arabian sea and from Thane city by the Thane creek.

Get in

By plane

The city does not have an airport yet, though that will change in a few years when the new international airport to serve Mumbai will be built in Navi Mumbai. Work on City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra's airport project in Navi Mumbai has already started (as of June 2008), after some issues relating to land acquisition are sorted out and clearance of the Union Cabinet is obtained. The closest airport is in Mumbai. Once you get off, you can take a train, bus or cab to get here.

By train

There are two train lines running through the city. These suburban railway stations are quite neater than those in mainland Mumbai. Navi Mumbai's Railway Stations are one of the very few stations in India which boast of beautiful infrastructure. The trains really are the best transportation option for Navi Mumbai, considering the region's high traffic and pollution.

Mumbai's Harbour Line has been extended to serve Navi Mumbai. The most important station is Vashi, but there are many stations within the city, including Sanpada, Juinagar, Nerul, Seawoods-Darave, CBD-Belapur, Kharghar, and Khandeshwar Mansarovar, & Panvel. The Panvel station is last station on Harbour Line

There are two rail line that connects Thane railway station from Vashi and Nerul. Service on this line has improved a lot now because of more trains added.

There are 5 suburban trains daily between Belapur and Andheri (2 in the morning and 3 in the evening)

With respect to January 2011, the Central railways have also started 12 car coaches between Thane-Panvel, Thane-Nerul Harbour lines. There are also fast trains running on this route.

Panvel-CST bound trains are soon be increased in carrying capacity from 9 to 12 coaches. This will ease the rush in the wee hours of the day in this line.

By car

Navi Mumbai is well connected with Mumbai. There are two entry points from Mumbai, via Chembur/Mankhurd and via the Airoli exit on the Eastern Express Highway. It will cost you Rs. 30 in toll. From Thane, you can enter the city via the Thane-Belapur road, and in fact the Airoli exit joins the Thane-Belapur road. This road has numerous entry points into the city, so you need to confirm which one to take.

The Thane-Belapur road also links up to the Mumbai-Pune expressway.

By bus

Mumbai's BEST and Kalyan - Dombivli's KDMT bus services run a few buses into the city. BEST bus numbers in the 500 series are the ones to look for.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus services run buses inside Navi Mumbai.
NMMT has extended A/C bus service to Bandra & Borivali and is a very convenient way to travel to Mumbai as it has pressed latest Volvo buses in service. BEST has also started its A/C king Long buses from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai but the fares are higher and buses are not as comfortable as NMMT Volvo buses.

By taxi

Mumbai's taxis are allowed into Navi Mumbai. Hired cars are also a good way of getting into the city. If you are travelling from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai most taxis will expect the passengers to pay the toll on the bridges connecting the cities, in addition to the metered fare.

Here is an advice - Most taxi/rickshaw meters are doctored, at least in Navi Mumbai. So, better go by branded cab services - Mega Cab (022-42424242), Meru Cab (022-44224422), Gold Cab etc. You would get them at 30-60 minutes notice, they are sparkling clean, air-conditioned, punctual, honest, GPS-equipped-monitored and thus far secure at anytime. You get an SMS saying driver name, mobile number and car number 30 min before scheduled departure. 03-box cars only - Indigo Marina and Maruti Esteem only. Call center 24 hours, and not much difference in the day or night charges. Charge Rs.15 per km point-to-point, with just Rs.2 extra for first km in the night time. Infact, domestic airport has a dedicated areas in the common taxi stand for Mega and Meru cabs. e.g. You would shell out Rs.450-600 from airport to navi mumbai depending upon where you go, whereas other cabs may fleece you to the tune of 1000-1600 easily while giving poor service.

By auto-rickshaw

Mumbai's auto-rickshaws are not allowed into Navi Mumbai. However, you can catch one right up to the toll gate at Airoli, walk across and catch one on the Navi Mumbai side. Similarly you can catch one to Mankhurd and then change over to a taxi to get to Vashi.
But sometime if you are lucky , you can get auto rickshaw to makhurd from vashi also to vashi from mankhurd.
Since these auto rickshaw come to mankhurd for gas filling since there are still less number of GAS stations in Vashi.

Get around

By car

By car, you can go through the Vashi-Mankhurd Bridge built over the sea, just by paying the over-valued toll tax. To welcome you in Navi Mumbai, there is a beautiful toll plaza at the end of the bridge to welcome you which acts as the entrance gate of Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai's main arterial road - called the 'Palm Beach Road' will help link you to the various nodes of Navi Mumbai viz Vashi, Nerul, CBD Belapur, Khargar, Panvel. It also links Navi Mumbai to Mhape and Thane. Palm Beach Road is a beautiful 4-lane highway with smooth tar roads and several exits to the nodes of the city.

By bus

By auto-rickshaw

Auto-rickshaw is a popular mode of travel within the satellite city. You will see 'rickshaw stands' at several busy corners of residential and commercial areas. The minimum fare is Rs. 15/- and most rickshaw drivers abide by the meter reading. But in case of doubt, please request for a meter card to confirm if you are being charged the correct amount.

Advice - If you wish to travel to any of the nodes of the city (say from Vashi to Nerul), most rickshaw drivers will ask for half or full return fare upfront. It is NOT mandatory to pay them the return fare and is entirely the discretion of the passenger whether or not he/she wishes to pay the fare. The rule of the land: if you do not wish to pay the return fare (or what the driver asks), you should not board the vehicle. Boarding the vehicle indicates your consent to pay the stipulated fare. Lastly, always let the DRIVER specify the markup on the fare. DO NOT ASK HIM IF HE WANTS A MARKUP TO GO TO ANY OF THE NODES!

Travel within any of the Nodes is always by meter and without a markup. So please do not accept any other price quoted by the driver.

See

Kharghar Hills, (Belapur). On the way to Kharghar, take a left on uphill as u leave the boundaries of CBD. A very cool place on hilltop. People prefer to come here for morning and evening walk. Youngsters come here to have fun and just chillout. It is closed most of the times in the rainy season because of the landslide. A must to visit this place in evening hours if you are around. It is best to visit this place when the monsoon just starts. During this time there is an enchanting dew and also a slow waterfall often called the pandavakhada waterfall.

Sarovar Vihar Garden, (attached to the creek at 15 minutes distance by rickshaw near Vashi Station). Like a second marine drive, provides a beautiful view of the sea, a drive from Vashi via the Palm Beach Road ends at Belapur

Waterfalls, Sector-8 (On the way from Mumbai to Panvel). Pandav kada at kharghar and artist village dam in CBD Monsoon tourist attraction for people from far and wide

Rajiv Gandhi Maidan. Lot's of temples for doing Pooja and meditiation, and a good trek

Rain Tree Marg, (Belapur). Has beautiful views of Navi Mumbai

Mango Garden, Belapur (opposite to the CBD Belapur bus depot). Mango Garden,a must visit place for couples and children.It is a small garden for almost all age group people.Children can play on the

Central Park, Kharghar, [1]. London’s Hyde Park and New York’s central park are few of the best examples of huge amusing park that standout in the history. The project of Central Park is an attempt of CIDCO, not rival to these historical parks, however to make public park creating these park’s concepts, relay the park to current times, in specific-Navi Mumbai’s ethos and additional reflect into future. It is presently under construction but is open to public. The large amphi theatre has hosted many public shows as well.

Do

Valley Park, Sector-9. A hot-spot for joggers of all ages

Sagar Vihar, sector 6 vashi (near vashi depot, 10 minutes from vashi station). a cool place to chill out with friends, a must to visit during evening hours.

Central Park, It is being developed by the CIDCO, a beautiful landscape. A ISCON temple is attached to this park. 40% work has been completed. There is no entry fee to this park. The west to this park is Pandav Kada waterfall and CIDCO developed Golf Course.

Buy

The shopping market throughout Sector-17 is a good place to buy a variety of things at reasonable rates.

CenterOne, (near Vashi Station). This mall houses all kinds of outlets for apparel, clothes, shoes, Indian Art and handicrafts, food what have you. This mall is also known as one of the oldest mall in Navi mumbai.

Raghuleela, outside vashi station (left). Absolutely opposite Vashi station, a regular spot for many on-the-go shoppers.awesome food court as well as fame cinemas here for watching movies. This mall is very good for food and cloths

Inorbit Mall, (opposite Vashi station) (right). Wide variety of brands under a single shed, wonderful place to hangout with family while shopping. vareity of food here in food court. pub and bar at 3rd floor...must visit place. try kareem's here in ground floor...for varieties of chicken, mutton, fish...and other non-veg items...

Sector 16+17, Vashi. About a small drive from Vashi Station, these sectors on the way you get into Vashi are one of the most happening spots of Navi Mumbai. Sector 16 as a general shopping zone, while sector 17 cropping as mini electronics marketplace.

Eat

The food caters to all kinds of palates which includes Pan Indian (South, North, Central and Western Indian), of course Pizza Hut, Smokin Joes, Dominos and McDonalds, Chinese and other oriental and lots more. Some Indian food you could try includes Dosas, Idlis, Bhel, Sev Puri, Samosas, Ragda patties, Pulavs, Rajma Chawal and more. Indian food is really what food should be. There are more varieties of Indian food than probably any other cuisine in the world. After all that hot stuff you can try out the Indian slush called the ice gola in Kalakhatta flavor, which beats Pepsi and Coke hollow. You'll get those two in manned fountains at the food counters.

Hot Cross Cafe, Nerul, Palm Beach/Kharghar (opp. Hiranandani Towers, near Utsav Chowk). A very relaxing coffee shop where they serve a variety of hukka (sheesha) at a very minimal rate. One of the best places in Navi Mumbai for hukka and mouth watering and fresh pastries.

Jaslok, (at Nerul/Station). All sorts of snacks and sweets. Pani Puri, Vada Pav and Rasmalai, Jamun are the delicious items

Navaratna, Vashi, Sec-17. One of the oldest restaurants in Vashi. It serves great food in the traditional Udipi style. A must try!

Hotel Ruchi, Koparkhairane. Possibly the best Keralite food you can find in the city. The restaurant itself is pretty small and unnoticable but if you notice it, don't miss it. Try the Kerala Parotha with Chicken Masala and the idiyaappam and appams for breakfast

Rain Forest, Sector 11, Belapur. Great ambience, good music. It is literally a dark forest inside with huge trees. Expensive.

Spices, Kopar Khairane (near Teen Tanki). Best non veg in KK

Oven Hot, Near Gaondevi Mandir (The next stop after Gaondevi Mandir to the left). Lovely chicken and veg snacks, superb pastries, delicious frankies. They make any sort of birthday cakes you desire, any shape, any cartoon character. Ask them and you have it. I suppose they make 1/2 kg cakes within 15 minutes or something. Also they make different kinds of breads and sliced breads and egg/eggless cakes (200 gms each packaged ones. walnut brownie, fruit and nut, mawa, tutty-fruity, choco walnut, etc.). All in all, an awesome place for a small party.

Stay Safe

As the population and prosperity of the city rose through the years, it began to attract more criminal activity. Navi Mumbai's crime count jumped up from 2,763 in 2003 to 3,571 in 2004. One of the main reasons for the spurt in crime is continuous political meddling in police investigations and the grossly under-staffed police force.

There are very few police chowkies throughout Navi Mumbai with virtually non existent beat chowkies and traffic police. Criminal activities in Navi Mumbai include chain snatching, pickpocketing, cellphone snatching. These crimes are mainly confined to sparsely populated areas. Navi Mumbai has witnessed several vehicle thefts and burglaries involving unoccupied houses. Murder and armed robbery take place in significant numbers. Riots and community feuds take place, especially in the Ghansoli area. There have been several instances where mobs of frustrated native villagers have beaten innocent law abiding residents. Nerul is especially plagued by robbery. The number of accidents on the Palm Beach Road caused by are growing at an alarming pace due to non existent traffic police or security cameras. The absence of street lights on the highway between Belapur and Kharghar poses a continued danger to motorists.
Shops and housing colonies often hire private security guards, as the police force is often overstretched.[18] Businesses are expected to shut shop by 10pm. The Mumbai underworld has begun to take notice of the city,[19] targeting the increasingly thriving businesses of cable operators, builders and real estate developers for extortion. On the whole, crime in Navi Mumbai is much less than in Mumbai.

Get out

In Rainy season go to Pandavkada Waterfalls in Kharghar. Authorities are strict in not allowing people to visit this place in Monsoon on account of accidental deaths in the waterfall.

Trek Karnala Fort, 13 km From Panvel

Mumbai (Bombay) is a short train ride away from Navi Mumbai, and many people travel to Mumbai for the day.

The beautiful hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala are less than an hour's drive from Navi Mumbai.